- Subsolar point
The subsolar point on a
planet is where itssun is perceived to be directly overhead (inzenith ).For planets with an orientation and rotation similar to the Earth's, the subsolar point will move westward, circling the
globe once a day, but it will also move north and south between thetropics over the course of ayear . Potentially any point in thetropics could be subsolar. The wintersolstice (in thenorthern hemisphere ) occurs when the subsolar point is over thetropic of capricorn and the summer solstice is at the instant when the subsolar point is over thetropic of cancer .The subsolar point on a body in the
solar system is where thesun 's rays are hitting it exactlyperpendicular to its surface; or on an object inspace , the point that is closest to the sun.
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